THERE ARE are now two companies offering telephone services in Jamaica, the first in the hundred-year history of telecommunications in the island.
Digicel Jamaica, the newest player in the market, was officially launched on Tuesday night with much fanfare at Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus hotel, Kingston.
The launch comes after nine months of intense preparation and roughly J$8 billion (US$175 million) in investment. The construction of 125 cell sites islandwide will ensure over 80 per cent population coverage, including all major towns and streets.
Mr. Harry Smith, marketing director, said the company's focus would be on offering a quality product at competitive prices. The company's confidence in its network is underpinned by its "dropped call compensation guarantee" resulting in compensation for customers who lose a call due to problems on the Digicel network.
The company has opted for the GSM (Global System of Mobiles) said to be the most popular cellular network in the world with 70 per cent of the cellular market and 473.1 million subscribers in 160 countries. It also boasts a range of safety features and is reportedly clone proof.
Digicel's prices will be competitive. Post-paid customers on the digiselect package will benefit from up to 1,200 free minutes depending on their monthly subscription. For those with a $1,000 monthly subscription, 80 free minutes are offered. The recommended deposit is $2,000. Customers with a $2,000 monthly subcription package are entitled to 600 free minutes, the recommended minimum deposit being $4,000.
Customers with a monthly subscription of $5,500 are entitled to 1,200 free minutes. The recommended minimum deposit is $6,500. The package includes calls made within Digicel's network, to national fixed lines and to Digicel's messaging service.
On the digiselect tariff plan, customers will be charged $5 per minute when calling another Digicel phone during peak periods. The off peak rate is $4. Digicel to fixed lines is $7 per minute during the peak period and $6 in the off peak period. Additionally, $15 and $14 per minute respectively is charged for calls made to other mobiles; and $5 for calls to messaging service. With its "you pay for what you use" slogan, Digicel customers will be charged on a per second basis, although prices are quoted per minute.
Customers using Digicel's prepaid or digiflex service will benefit from savings of up to 33 per cent. There is no rental or connection fee and no quarterly service charge. Peak and off peak rates are offered.
